CES 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

With over 4,500 companies touting their latest and greatest products, CES 2020 was a blast. We are certainly glad we made it to this impressive technology-driven event, one of the last huge tradeshows in the first quarter before COVID-19 arrived on US soil. Over 170,000 attendees came to check out the impressive showcase of everything from 3D Printing, AI, AR/VR, Robotics, and Wearables, and just about everything in between. As engineers who develop mechatronic products, we find that CES is one of our favorite playgrounds to enjoy.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

In the midst of COVID-19, we must stop and take a moment to enjoy the entertaining (and now very much needed) Charmin toilet paper robot. RollBot is a Bluetooth-enabled robot designed to deliver a fresh roll of toilet paper to you when you unexpectedly run out on the throne.  Our Director of the Bay Area had a great laugh testing out the experience. The big question is, where can we find these amazing little robots now, and how do we get ahold of them and their unlimited supply of valuable toilet paper?!?

Gabriel Aldaz, testing out the Charmin RollBot that we all need in our lives right now.

Robotics for the win!

There was no shortage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics at CES 2020. Using a computer to model and/or replicate intelligent behavior with minimal human intervention, we expect to see more AI and Robotics in the workforce in the coming years as the technology progresses and the need for more contact-free experiences arise.

The industrial robotics market is expected to grow by 175% over the next decade, according to Loup Ventures research. Collaborative robots (“cobots”) designed to work safely alongside humans in factories and plants are expected to increase growth in the AI market with a forecast expecting the AI industry to become a $190 billion industry by 2025.

While social distancing, we can’t help but wish we all had our very own Forpheus ping-pong playing robot by Omron.

Forpheus has a robotic arm controlled by AI with a 5-axis motor system used to swing the paddle. It uses AI, motion control and cameras, to identify the ping pong balls, track the players movement, detect the balls speed, and match the players skill level.

Forpheus ping-pong playing robot by Omron.

AR/VR

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies had an amazing presence at the show. Mixed reality technologies were a big hit with the crowds. Automakers, streaming companies, and developers were using AR/VR solutions and virtual experiences to promote their products. You could ride in a flying vehicle, demo a product, visit an alternate world, try on makeup and clothing, and collaborate with your team in an augmented world without ever needing to be in the same country.

Spatial AR/VR might just be gaining even more steam lately by allowing cross-platform collaboration in a post COVID-19 world full of remote opportunities for team members to collaborate.

Want to join a meetup or attend an event?  AR/VR collaboration experiences might be just the thing you are looking for, no handshaking required.

AR/VR Demo at CES

Wearables

Wearable tech was around every corner at the show and continues to grow exponentially. There are wearables of the human variety as well as wearables for your canine. You can track your fitness, your health, your location, your family, your sleep, and everything in between.

Gone are the days of just smartwatches and fitness trackers. Today’s wearable tech brings digital health front and center and offers consumers the tools needed to take control of their wellness and to improve their health. The ability to save lives, detect underlying health issues and even lower the cost of healthcare is a big reason to expect the wearables market to continue rapidly growing.

Wearables at CES 

In a twist since CES with the growing concerns over our current health crisis, researchers are starting to test wearables as an early warning system for COVID-19.

“Both research groups at University of California, San Francisco, ad San Diego, Scripps Research Translational Institute said they’re pushing to get the research off the ground at an unprecedented pace.”

Smart Home

As we get closer and closer to a fully connected world, it’s just natural that we would see so many amazing smart home devices showcased at CES this year. From showerheads, appliances, doorbells, clocks, security cameras, to cooking utensils, these Internet of Things (IoT) devices will have you wondering why you haven’t had your home automation in check, until now.

Simply use your voice or push a button and you can adjust the temperature in your home, cook your meal to perfection, dim your lighting, or feed Fido from the comfort of your couch all while you are telecommuting in today’s landscape. Being stuck inside has its perks.

Ring Smart Home 

What a show! 

If you are looking for help designing a new connected device, please contact us!